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墨書 Inktalez
Mei Shuang suddenly woke up, startled and trembling all over. "Ah, ah, ah, when did this happen?"
Xiao Luo withdrew his arm, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression serious. "Just now, I received news from the captured merchants of the Eastern Kingdom. Currently, the entire Eastern Kingdom is divided into two factions, on the brink of conflict...”
Mei Shuang suppressed her shock and quickly calculated in her mind. It was late February now, and given the current situation, March would likely be the last chance for the Jiu Rang Family to rise up and retaliate against the Eastern Kingdom. In that case, Kuranami Miyako would still have time to fight back.
"What are you thinking about?"
A low voice interrupted her thoughts, indicating that he was displeased with her distraction. Mei Shuang collected herself, calming her emotions as she shrugged. "Nothing much, just that dream was really extraordinary."
Xiao Luo did not pursue the matter of Mei Shuang's so-called "dream." He simply said lightly, "Why did you release the prisoner from the Eastern Kingdom?"
Mei Shuang was taken aback for a moment before responding, "Your Majesty, it was not my intention to offend your authority. It's just that they are women who bear the heavy responsibility of their family's survival. They are searching far and wide for a way to lift the curse to save their entire family. As a fellow woman, I admire their relentless spirit; I couldn't help them in any other way but to let her go..."
At this point, Mei Shuang sighed. "Moreover, if a country falls into chaos, it is only the innocent commoners who suffer... I only hope she can return in time to prevent an internal conflict. Even if it cannot be avoided in the future, at least for now, it allows the people to live in peace for a little longer..."
While saying this, Mei Shuang did not notice the subtle surprise and admiration that flickered in Xiao Luo's deep eyes. It was only when she stopped walking that she realized she had stepped beside Xiao Luo.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, she took a step back and silently scolded herself for being so careless; she should have been standing in her position as Empress's privilege. Given her current status, she should have been following behind.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," Mei Shuang lowered her gaze and apologetically said, "I spoke too much just now..."
Xiao Luo raised an eyebrow but continued walking casually. "No worries... Are you implying that there will be internal strife in that small Eastern nation in the future?"
Mei Shuang looked around; it was already dark outside as lanterns lit up one by one in the palace. Li Gonggong was holding a palace lantern ahead to light their path. They had somehow made their way to the Imperial Garden.
The Taiqing Pool ran through the imperial city; every railing on the arched bridge was carved with vivid dragons. Despite the cold weather, steam rose from the water flowing from the dragon's mouth. The water splashed onto the surface like thick streams, creating white waves that danced and leaped. Beside the water was a massive artificial mountain with rugged rocks and lush greenery covering it, adding vibrant life to this bleak winter.
Seeing such varying shades of green brightened Mei Shuang's mood significantly; naturally, Xiao Luo's question also found its answer.
She smiled lightly, "Your Majesty, I have heard that you have been fighting for many years, pacifying the borders and achieving great military feats, conquering countless small nations and tribes. Whenever your name is mentioned, people believe that divine power has descended, and they fear you to the bone. The Eastern Kingdom, though separated by the sea, is merely a tiny land with no prior dealings with our dynasty. Why do you pay such close attention to it?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Luo stopped in his tracks, casting a faintly scrutinizing gaze at Mei Shuang, which grew increasingly profound.
After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and said nonchalantly, "The eastern border occasionally faces offenses; I naturally cannot sit idly by..."
Mei Shuang did not speak further.
Ah, this emperor! His words were filled with probing questions about how much she knew regarding the Eastern Kingdom, while he revealed not even a hint of his true thoughts.
In fact, upon careful consideration, did it really warrant him to mobilize the entire city for a few petty thieves from the Eastern Kingdom? Moreover, even if she released Kuranami Miyako, would it be too much to label her as "colluding with the enemy"? Have you ever seen such blatant "collusion"?
Especially since he already knew that once signs of internal strife appeared in the Eastern Kingdom, it was unlikely they could know so quickly without his involvement.
Yet all of this was merely her speculation. Until she understood the true intentions of this enigmatic Sovereign, it was best not to overestimate her own cleverness.
After all, a ruler of a nation is unfathomable; matters of state are beyond her comprehension as an ordinary citizen.
Just then, she heard Li Gonggong approaching cautiously to remind him, "Your Majesty, it is time for dinner..."
Mei Shuang felt a sense of relief; some topics were best left untouched at the right moment, and she was hungry too.
Xiao Luo seemed lost in thought for a moment before saying lightly, "I am tired. Return to the Hall of Governance to rest. You will escort Miss Lin Yuxiang back..."
---
That night, Mei Shuang lay alone in her room, tossing and turning as she recalled the day's events. The most memorable part was undoubtedly what Xiao Luo had said during their farewell.
Lin Yuxiang?
How could a name I casually made up be called out by the Emperor in public? What does this mean? Has the Emperor given her a new identity? Does this mean she will now walk through the palace under the name Lin Yuxiang?
In the darkness, Mei Shuang blinked her sleepy eyes, unable to sleep...
---
In the late night at Purple Dawn Palace, the noise of the day faded away, gradually sinking into silence. Amidst the sound of dripping water, as hope for seeing the Emperor's face dwindled, the candles in each concubine's chamber were extinguished one after another.
In Consort Chen Palace.
Sitting in front of her vanity mirror, dressed up and filled with joy, Consort Chen was infuriated when she heard a dejected maid say that the Emperor was resting in the Hall of Governance again and would not be coming.
The once vibrant beauty reflected in the mirror suddenly turned somewhat fierce. She raised her hand and swept the vanity mirror to the ground, turning around angrily, "Has the Emperor gone to see the Empress?"
The sudden crash of the bronze mirror startled the maids into silence.
"The Empress?" The maid was taken aback at first, then quietly said, "Li Gonggong mentioned that the Emperor had many Fire Sticks today..."
Consort Chen coldly smiled, "Didn’t the Emperor go to Queen's Palace early this morning? I heard from Release that the Empress wasn’t feeling well. How could it be that today, when the Emperor clearly summoned me, he’s stealing my thunder...”
Several maids were frightened. Jin Suo quickly said, "Consort Chen, please calm down. This morning when Release went to summon the imperial physician, she happened to run into the Emperor. Tonight I heard from Li Gonggong that after dinner, the Emperor has been discussing matters with Left Chancellor..."
Consort Chen's anger flared up again. She picked up a silver comb from her vanity and threw it at Jin Suo’s head. "You wretched girl! You eat and drink from me here and yet you turn against me? You’re defending that wretched Empress..."
Not satisfied with just cursing, Consort Chen stepped forward and slapped Jin Suo twice, causing her to bleed from her mouth and nose as she begged for mercy repeatedly. "Consort Chen, I still have something to say!"
"You wretched maid! If you have something to say, go outside and say it! Come on, drag this wretched maid out!" Consort Chen huffed after tiring herself out from hitting.
"Consort Chen, today I happened to pass by the Imperial Garden and saw... Deposed Empress Mei Shuang! The Emperor was with her..." Jin Suo clutched her stomach, eager to report this news, or else her nickname would be at risk.
Just as Consort Chen settled down to catch her breath, she sprang up from her chair, her almond eyes wide open. "What did you say?! Deposed Empress Mei Shuang? She... she was with the Emperor? In the Imperial Garden?"
"Absolutely true, I wouldn't mistake it," Jin Suo replied.
Consort Chen was taken aback. After regaining her composure, she instructed the other maidens to help Jin Suo up and tried to soften her tone. "Tell me what happened."
Jin Suo wiped the blood from her nose and recounted how Mei Shuang encountered the Emperor on the way and how they walked together to the Imperial Garden, emphasizing the intriguing details that were worth noting.
Consort Chen listened patiently, her expression shifting from pale to red, and finally turning a deep shade of anger.
"You said the Emperor even held her waist? They seemed very intimate?"
Jin Suo nodded. "That's why I said the Emperor didn't go to the Empress."
After a long pause, Consort Chen sat down in a daze, suddenly filled with doubts. "Did you see it clearly? The Emperor never liked her and despised her even more because of Chu Xiruo. How could this be possible? Moreover, even though the Empress Dowager has cleared her name, how could she appear in the palace so boldly?"
Jin Suo recalled carefully and affirmed, "Consort Chen, even if my eyesight is poor, I wouldn't mistake it after such a long time. It was definitely Deposed Empress Mei Shuang. Strangely enough, the Emperor seemed to be enjoying their conversation..."
"What did they talk about?"
"It was too far away to hear clearly, but I felt that the Emperor's attitude towards her was definitely not what it used to be..."
Oh my!
What is going on? Could it be that Deposed Empress Mei Shuang has made a successful comeback and gained the Emperor's favor?
"Have you told anyone else?"
"No."
"Who else saw it?"
"I did not notice anyone else."
Consort Chen pondered for a moment before saying lightly, "You may go now. Check with the Imperial Physician... Oh, wait, tomorrow morning I need to go to the Queen's Palace to pay my respects to the Empress..."
---
In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the third lunar month.
When Mei Shuang discovered a bunch of forsythia flowers swaying in the wind in the corner upon waking up, she silently thought to herself that spring had arrived.
Since accompanying Xiao Luo for a walk in the Imperial Garden, she had been staying in her humble room, studying several volumes of scriptures sent by the Empress Dowager.
After that, the Empress Dowager did not summon her again, Xiao Luo had not come to find her for leisure, and Nangong Nuo had completely disappeared. Logically speaking, she should be quite close to where Nangong Nuo resided in the palace now, yet he was nowhere to be seen.
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